Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow, Brain infective pathogens

Novartis Farmacéutica; Emeryville (CA); On-site; USD 87,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Novartis as a Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow, where you'll work on groundbreaking research investigating pathogens affecting the blood-brain barrier. This one to three-year program offers a collaborative environment and the chance to publish innovative results in leading journals. Ideal candidates have a PhD and expertise in relevant models.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Generous time off package

Qualifications

• PhD required, recent graduates eligible (awarded May 2023 or later).
• Experience with BBB models and microfluidics preferred.
• Strong publication record or scientific achievements necessary.

Responsibilities

• Develop in vitro models to study how pathogens enter the brain.
• Investigate the mechanisms of action of anti-infective agents.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to enhance research.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

PhD in Neuroscience

Tools

Microfluidics

Organ models

Job description

Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow, Brain infective pathogens

Job ID REQ-10054133

USA

Summary

As part of the Discovery Fellowship track of the Novartis Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, you will join our vibrant, dedicated postdoctoral community for events, including the monthly postdoc seminars and other scheduled postdoc events. Fellows are surrounded by a supportive, collaborative community of postdocs and scientists, who would contribute to the acceleration of your scientific growth, along with building your professional skillset, e.g., you will have the opportunity to do a Postdoc Practicum in another laboratory or in a business function of Novartis. This applied research program is up to 3 years in length, with the option of applying for an extension of up to 1 year (pending review by the Head of Biomedical Education & Innovation and the postdoc supervisor).

About the Role

Internal Job Title: Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow

We are thrilled to open applications for our Discovery Fellowship track of the Novartis Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.

Come join Novartis Biomedical Research as a Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow and join our dynamic Global Health research team in Emeryville, California, investigating infectious diseases that breach the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and lead to severe neurological outcomes. This position is part of a cross-functional initiative to understand and overcome the biological barriers that limit therapeutic access to the central nervous system (CNS) during infection.

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to use state-of-the-art in vitro models—such as human BBB assembloids and microfluidic platforms—to study pathogen transcytosis, host-pathogen interactions, and drug permeability. A central focus of the role includes target deconvolution to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind compound activity, toxicity, and BBB penetration.

As part of the Discovery Fellowship track of the Novartis Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, you will join our vibrant, dedicated postdoctoral community for events, including the monthly postdoc seminars and other scheduled postdoc events. Fellows are surrounded by a supportive, collaborative community of postdocs and scientists, who would contribute to the acceleration of your scientific growth, along with building your professional skillset, e.g., you will have the opportunity to do a Postdoc Practicum in another laboratory or in a business function of Novartis. This applied research program is up to 3 years in length, with the option of applying for an extension of up to 1 year (pending review by the Head of Biomedical Education & Innovation and the postdoc supervisor).

Discovery Postdoctoral Fellows have a unique opportunity to conduct innovative, interdisciplinary research and are expected to publish their results in leading journals. We collaborate across scientific and organizational boundaries, focusing on powerful new technologies that have the potential to help produce therapeutic breakthroughs for patients.

Through the Novartis Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, you will build your competency as a drug hunter and as a scientific leader in the field. You will join a professional network that will support your growth as a research scientist, and you will have the opportunity to tackle disease and make an impact by reimagining medicine together.

Key responsibilities

As a Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow, you will:

• Work independently as well as with interdisciplinary teams
• Design and develop in vitro models of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to assess how pathogens and therapeutic molecules enter the brain.
• Investigate the mechanisms of action (MoA) of anti-infective agents active against pathogens that invade the CNS, and possible resistant mechanisms.
• Explore the impact of inflammation and infection on BBB integrity and therapeutic delivery.
• Validate model performance by comparing in vitro outcomes with in vivo data on pathogen spread and drug efficacy.
• Integrate cross-functional insights to inform lead optimization and therapeutic strategy.
• Disseminate research through high-impact presentations, internal reports, and peer-reviewed publications.

Role Requirements:

• PhD in Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Cellular Biology, or a related field.
• Note that PhD students in the last year of their thesis work are eligible to apply. Applicants are only eligible to apply up to 2 years from the date of receiving their PhD (i.e. PhD degrees must have been awarded May 2023 or later).
• Experience in blood-brain barrier models, microfluidics, organoids, or assembloid systems.
• Familiarity with MoA elucidation and target identification using proteomics or CRISPR screening techniques.
• Strong publication record or other scientific achievements (i.e. awards, patents, grants)
• Excellent analytical, communication, presentation, and organizational skills
• Passion for fundamental exploratory research and boundless curiosity

How to apply

Please submit your CV and cover letter by July 5th 2025 for consideration. Please make sure to discuss in the cover letter how this training program will help you fulfill your career goals.

The starting salary for this position is $87,000 per year.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves. #PDX

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

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The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility & Reasonable Accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] or call [phone] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Division Biomedical Research

Business Unit Universal Hierarchy Node

Location USA

State California

Site Emeryville

Company / Legal Entity U175 (FCRS = US175) Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Inc.

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